"Not nearly as good as anyone said" - Ex-NHL player claims league still not taking Winnipeg Jets seriously as playoff contenders

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Mar 06, 2024 10:21 GMT

Former NHL player Ryan Whitney dropped a bombshell regarding the perception of the Winnipeg Jets within the league.

On the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Whitney recounted a conversation he had with a current NHL player, whose name he did not mention. The player apparently labeled the Jets "the biggest frauds in the NHL" and predicted their demise in the first round of the playoffs.

Whitney's revelation came during a discussion with co-host Paul Bissonnette on the podcast, where he shared insights from his conversation with the unnamed NHL player.

Whitney said:

"I had a player in the NHL on a team currently sitting in a playoff spot tell me that the Winnipeg Jets are the biggest frauds in the league and that they'll lose in the first round. Wow. I know I said, 'Oh, these guys, they're not nearly as good as anyone said."

Bissonnette asked Whitney if there was a chance of that team playing the Jets in the first round to which Whitney said yes. But he refused to disclose the player's name.

The Jets currently hold a playoff spot, sitting in the second position in the Central Division with a record of 37-16-5 and 79 points. They are just two points behind the division-leading Dallas Stars.

Winnipeg Jets' debilitating loss to Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 on Thursday, securing the top spot in the Central Division. Rookie Logan Stankoven continued his impressive performance with his third goal in four NHL games.

Joe Pavelski and Stankoven scored within 96 seconds in the first period. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz also contributed goals. All-Star goalie Jake Oettinger earned his 100th win, making 25 saves.

Vladislav Namestnikov scored the Jets' lone goal as their four-game winning streak ended.